POLICE FRUSTRATED OVER MIRNAS MURDER CASE

Posted: Thu, May 12 2016 | 11:16 am

The police have criticized the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office for rejecting for a third time the
case dossier on Jessica Kumala Wongso, who is suspected of murdering Wayan Mirna
Salihin.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto called on the prosecutors to accept the final
revision of the case dossier to enable the case to go to trial.
Let the judges decide so that there is legal certainty. We shouldn't be bothered with all
these problems, said Moechgiyarto as reported by kompas.com on Thursday.
Police have 120 days, or until May 28, to prepare the dossier. If prosecutors do not accept
the dossier before the deadline, Jessica will be released and the case closed.
The prosecutors said the case dossier had been rejected because the police had failed to
provide strong evidence to implicate Jessica in Mirna's death.
Moechgiyarto stressed that the police had done their best to complete the document before
submitting it to the prosecutor's office. He argued that based on the law, the police did not
need to collect two items of evidence.
Based on Law No. 8/1981 on the Criminal Law Procedures Code , there is no obligation
to collect two pieces of evidence, he said, countering the prosecutors argument that the
police had not collected enough evidence.
If we want to uphold justice, the case should proceed to trial. Let the judges decide, he
said.
Jessica was named a suspect in the murder of Mirna, who died after drinking cyanide-laced
coffee at Olivier restaurant at Grand Indonesia, Central Jakarta, on Jan. 6. Jessica shared a
table at the restaurant with Mirna and another woman, Hani, at the restaurant. ( bbn )

Bali BPOM seize illegal traditional drugs, cosmetics

Denpasar Posted: Fri, May 13 2016 | 05:52 pm

Officers from the Bali Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) showcase illegal drugs
and cosmetics at the agency office in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday. The illegal substances
were seized after a week of crackdowns across Bali. (JP/Zul Trio Anggono)
The Drug and Food Monitoring Agency ( BPOM ) in Denpasar has confiscated 18,085
pieces of illegal drugs and 1,019 cosmetic items worth at least Rp 309 million
(US$23,189). The products were confiscated from 38 kiosks, traditional markets and
supermarkets across Bali.
Agency head Endang Widowati told a press conference on Friday that the drugs and
cosmetics were seized during raids conducted on drug and cosmetic vendors in five areas
of Bali; Denpasar, and the regencies of Badung, Buleleng, Karangasem and Tabanan.
"Twenty two out of the 60 stores we inspected are clear from any illegal products," Endang
said.
The agency had launched a one-week crackdown on the distribution of illegal drugs and
cosmetics from April 18 to April 29.
"Most of the products confiscated do not have distribution licenses and others contained
hazardous substances," she added.
Among the products seized were herbal medicines, popularly known as jamu, whitening
cream, face foundation and lipsticks.
Endang called on consumers to cease using products without a distribution license to avoid
the risk of being exposed to hazardous substances. ( dmr )

BI urges Islamic finance industry to enhance human capital

Jakarta
Posted: Fri, May 13 2016 | 05:24 pm

Bank Indonesia
Islamic
institutions to
human capital
improve
and sustain the
growth.

( BI ) has urged
financial
enhance
their
in
order
to
competitiveness
industrys rapid

"If we want to
see the Islamic
financial sector
on par with its
conventional counterpart, it is relevant to improve the human capital," BI deputy governor
Hendar told a seminar on human capital development held at BIs offices in Jakarta on
Friday.
Hendar added that Islamic financial institutions had achieved significant growth,
surpassing the growth of conventional financial institutions even during the global
economic crisis.
Despite this achievement, the industry was still facing a low quality of human capital,
resulting in relatively low operational efficiency and poor product knowledge, he said.
"We should pay more attention to the low quality of human resources. This unfortunate
phenomenon has affected many countries, including Indonesia," he said.
To enhance human capital, industry players needed to address crucial factors. Universities
needed to provide teaching materials that combined Islamic and regular education with
technology-based development and needed to build strong cooperation with global
institutions.
Meanwhile, Ali Ghufron Mukti, director general for science, technology and higher
education at the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry, added that to
achieve global competitiveness, industry players needed to improve technological
readiness, innovation and higher education.
"In the era of ASEAN Economic Community, human resources, undoubtedly, play an
important role to enhance the competitiveness of the country. Hence, the ministry
encourages individuals and organizations to conceptualize and make strategies to enhance
human capital," he said, adding that vocational education was necessary beside academic
education. He said priority sectors to focus on were energy and renewable energy, health
care, transportation, defense and maritime industries. ( dmr )

Gajah Tunggal tire sales up 13 percent in first quarter

Jakarta
Posted: Fri, May 13 2016 | 06:01 pm

Publicly listed tire producer PT Gajah Tunggal has released strong figures for the first
quarter and expressed optimism on future sales amid the governments infrastructure push
and economic policies to support the automotive industry.
The companys quarterly report shows that its revenue rose to Rp 3.4 trillion ( US$255.6
million ) in the January to March period of this year, up 13 percent from Rp 3 trillion
recorded in the same period last year.
Gajah Tunggal president director Christopher Chan said the increase marked a good start
for the company after it had seen a 1.3 percent drop in annual sales last year, attributed to
the economic slowdown.
We hope to see this kind of growth sustained for the next quarters throughout this year,
he said, adding however, that the firm remained cautious on the possible slow recovery of
commodity prices that would affect the overall economy.
While also hoping on the local economy, Gajah Tunggal has set its sights on the US
market, where recently imposed high tariffs on Chinese tires opened up opportunities for
Indonesian producers.
Gajah Tunggal exports 43 percent of its products to six continents. This year, it targets to
increase the export share with the aim of earning more than 50 percent of its revenue
abroad. ( dmr )

Moderate Muslims interested in Islam Nusantara

A number of visiting foreign Muslim
leaders have expressed their interest in the
concept of Islam promoted by the
Indonesian government, Islam Nusantara.
Introduced by Indonesias largest Islamic
organization, Nahdlatul Ulama ( NU ),
Islam Nusantara is a tolerant form of Islam
that upholds values of peace, modesty and
cultural respect. NU secretary-general
Helmy Faisal Zaini said some of the
foreign leaders wanted to adopt Islam Nusantara, since the paradigm could be adapted to
other countries local heritage. Lebanese cleric Amin Kurdi, who is also a grand imam of
the Lebanese State Mosque, said the attraction of Islam Nusantara were its teachings that
told Muslims to be tolerant and spread love and peace.
"Personally, I'd like to push for the establishment of NU [in Lebanon], since the NU has
experience in disseminating good, moderate and tolerant Islam," Kurdi said.
Beirut already has an NU special branch committee ( PCI NU ) to represent the Indonesian
NU in Lebanon, as one of 40 countries around the world that have become special
members of the NUs central board.
Lebanon is among 10 countries, including Russia and Lithuania, that have announced plans
for the establishment of independent NU organizations following the International Summit
of Moderate Islamic Leaders ( ISOMIL ), recently organized by NUs central board in
Jakarta. More than 300 participants from 35 countries, including Muslim figures from Iran,
Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, attended the two-day meeting, where the
clerics endorsed the NU's Jakarta Declaration.
NU central board deputy chairman Maksum Machfoedz said there were currently five
countries that had own independent NU organizations, namely Afghanistan, Turkey,
Tunisia, Malaysia and Thailand. The Afghan NU was established in response to an
initiative by the Indonesian NU when the NUs central board invited Afghan clerics to
Jakarta in 2011 to assist in peace efforts in the war-torn country, Machfoedz said.
"We keep assisting them in the process [...] two years ago, we even have brought them to
Gajah Mada University to learn about Pancasila ( Indonesias state ideology )," Machfoedz
told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday. Fazal Ghani Kakar, the founder of the Afghan NU,
said the Afghan government had supported the organization since its establishment in 2011.
According to Kakar, there are currently 6,000 local ulemas in 22 NU representative offices
across 34 provinces of Afghanistan registered with the Afghan Justice Ministry.
"We are running independently, however, we get support from the Indonesian NU and
Indonesian Embassy in Kabul from time to time," Kakar said. The NU central board hoped
that more independent NUs would be established soon in the countries currently hosting
NU special branch committees, Machfoedz added. ( bbn )

Seasoned Indonesian banker Robby Djohan passes away in Jakarta

Jakarta
Posted: Fri, May 13 2016 | 05:47 pm

Renowned senior banker Robby Rodjo Djohan, whom worked in the banking industry for
more than 30 years, passed away on Friday afternoon, at the age of 78.
"Let us pray that God grants him the best place in the afterlife," an Infobank spokesperson
said in a message to thejakartapost.com, adding that Robby died on Friday afternoon at the
Puri Cinere Hospital in Jakarta.
Born in Semarang, on August 1, 1938, the former 1950's era actor was among the bankers
that helped to establish the largest bank in Indonesia, in terms of assets, Bank Mandiri Tbk.
Having graduated in economics at Padjadjaran Universitas ( Unpad ), Bandung, West Java,
Robby first joined the banking industry with Citibank, before leading Bank Niaga ( now
Bank CIMB-Niaga ) to become one of leading private banks in the country.
Robby was also known for his role in restructuring Indonesias biggest airlines Garuda
Indonesia Tbk, a move that prevented the state-owned airline from falling into bankruptcy.
Robby and his wife Nanan Hadiretna had three daughters. ( ags )

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines sign maritime security declaration

Jakarta Posted: Thu, May 5 2016 | 08:46 pm

Foreign ministers and defense force chiefs from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
signed a joint declaration on maritime security on Thursday, calling on all governments in
the region to increase efforts to tackle marine threats.
The leaders called for intensified maritime security following the recent kidnapping of
seamen by the Southern Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf militant group, and other armed sea
robberies, that have endangered national security in the region.
In the joint declaration obtained by The Jakarta Post, the officials agreed to conduct
patrols and to render immediate assistance for the safety of all vessels and crew in the three
countries' respective maritime areas.
The governments will also establish a joint focal point to facilitate the timely sharing of
information and intelligence, according to the statement released by the Foreign Ministry.
"A communication hotline will be established [...] to better facilitate coordination during
emergency situations and security threats," the statement read.
The joint declaration follows a meeting in Yogyakarta on Thursday between Foreign
Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Sri Anifah Aman and
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Rene D. Almendras.
Also present at the meeting were Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo,
Malaysian Defense Force chief Gen. Tan Sri Dato' Sri Zulkifeli and flag officer in
command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP ) Vice. Adm. Caesar C. Taccad,
who represented the AFP acting chief of staff.
The officials will in turn instruct relevant agencies of the three countries to meet
immediately and to convene on a regular basis to implement and periodically review the
new measures, as well as to formulate a new standard operating procedure.
The countries all expressed renewed commitment to the promotion of peace, stability and
security in the region, as well as to addressing growing security challenges, especially
transnational crime and terrorism. The agreement also confirms a mutual respect for the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, the statement said. ( afr/ebf )

Govt should settle human rights abuses in Papua through peaceful

dialogue: Horta
Jakarta Posted: Sun, May 8 2016 | 10:39 am

Former president of Timor Leste Jose Ramos-Horta has expressed optimism that the
Indonesian government will settle cases of human rights abuses in Papua, saying that
officials should prioritize peaceful dialogue.
Despite long decades of insurgency and rebellion from Papuan separatists, the government
should not regard these people as enemies, but should instead work to rebuild trust with
them, Horta said. The process will not be easy because the government has neglected
Papua for too long, Horta added.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's commitment to the Papuan people had begun to build
up a sense of goodwill after a period of prolonged disappointment, Horta said.
"They are hopeful that significant steps will be taken to improve human rights in Papua,"
Horta told journalists on Thursday. The statement follows Horta's visit to Papua from May
2 to May 4 after receiving an invitation to inspect development in the region from
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan.
During the visit, Horta reportedly met with Papuan officials including Papua Governor
Lukas Enembe, Papua Legislative Council Speaker Yunus Wonda, the Papuan People's
Assembly ( MRP ), local teachers and medical assistants. Horta also met with former rebels
who used to be active in the Free Papua Movement, but who now agreed to develop Papua
as a part of Indonesia.
The National Commission on Human Rights ( Komnas HAM ) will cooperate with human
rights NGOs to investigate cases of violence in Papua, Horta said. The government should
also work closely with local churches, he added.
"Indonesia can settle the human rights cases in Papua internally without the help of foreign
actors," Horta asserted. The government should also avoid using violence that often ended
up wounding innocent civilians, Horta said. According to Horta, the government should
find the right balance between national development and understanding centuries-old
Papuan values.
This will be difficult because Papua is a large region, Horta said. The government should
develop programs to create more economic opportunity for Papuans, he went on to say.
Besides developing infrastructure and reducing the disparity gap, education should also be
a top priority to advance the quality of the regions human resources, Horta said. Indonesia
should take note of Singapore, a state with minimum natural resources, but a positive
reputation in the international community, Horta said. "A nation can be minuscule, but if
everybody studies and gets a degree from a reputable university, they can operate in a big
industry," Horta said. ( dan )

Tommy Soehartos Golkar chairmanship candidacy questioned

Jakarta Posted: Tue, May 3 2016 | 03:59 pm
The nomination as Golkar Party chairman of Hutomo Tommy Mandala Putra, the
youngest son of late former president Soeharto, will hamper the partys struggle to rebuild
its image, an observer has opined.
People would question Tommys eligibility as regards his track record. In the current
situation, Golkar needs to find the right chairman, someone who can unify and is
committed to improving the party and grooming its cadres, instead of someone who can
merely finance it, Indonesian Institute of Sciences ( LIPI ) senior political analyst Siti
Zuhro said on Monday. Born in 1962, Tommy took control of a large number of
businesses during his father's New Order regime ( 1966-1998 ), allegedly making vast
amounts of money through corruption and embezzlement.
Golkar has been split into two factions for around a year. The Golkar leadership led by
Aburizal Bakrie was chosen by a party national congress ( munas ) in Bali in November
2014, while a splinter faction led by Agung Laksono was elected at a munas at Ancol in
Jakarta in December 2015.
The conflict receded earlier this year when the Supreme Court ordered Law and Human
Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly to revoke a decree acknowledging the legitimacy of the
Agung camp. The minister later issued a decree that legalized the Golkar leadership
declared at the Bali Munas.
The Law and Human Rights Ministry extended the Golkar leadership formed at a Riau
congress, which should have expired in 2014, for six months on Jan. 28 to help the party
organize a reconciliation congress. It was then decided that Golkar would hold an
extraordinary national congress ( munaslub ), scheduled for May 23 to May 26 in Bali.
The chair of the congress steering committee, Nurdin Halid, confirmed on Monday that
Tommy would run for the party chairmanship along with other candidates Ade
Komaruddin, Airlangga Hartarto, Aziz Syamsuddin, Indra Bambang Utoyo, Mahyudin,
Priyo Budi Santoso, Setya Novanto, Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Wati Amir.
Nurdin said as quoted by Tempo.co that Tommy had sent a representative to attend an event
set by the committee to introduce the mechanisms and procedures of the munaslub and
chairmanship race, although the son of the late president has yet to formally declare his
candidacy.
During Soeharto's 32-year authoritarian leadership, Golkar enjoyed the benefits of being
the single biggest party in the country. It consecutively swept all six general elections from
1971 until 1997, garnering an average vote of over 60 percent.
However, the party suffered defeat for the first time in the 1999 general election, in which
it came second with 22.44 percent of the votes after the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle ( PDI-P ), led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of founding president
Sukarno. Golkar's performance in recent regional elections showed an even greater decline;
the party ranked ninth of 12 political parties participating in the elections, far below the
PDI-P, which topped the poll, according to data compiled by NGO the People's Voters
Education Network ( JPPR ).
Currently, there is great public attention on all political parties including Golkar. It will as
such be hard for the party if it fails to convince the public, especially before the next
simultaneous regional elections in 2017 and legislative and presidential elections in 2019,
Siti said. ( vps/ebf )

Govt discusses release of 4 captured sailors

Jakarta
Posted: Mon, May 2 2016 | 11:29 pm

Stay confident Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi speaks during a press conference at the
Foreign Ministry in Jakarta. She said on Monday that the government was striving to
secure the release of four Indonesian sailors being held captive by Abu Sayyaf militants in
the southern Philippines.(Tempo/-)
The government is focusing its attention on securing the release of four Indonesian sailors
still being held captive by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines.
It readjusted its efforts following the release on Sunday of 10 Indonesian seamen who had
been held hostage by the terror group since March.
We will intensify coordination with related parties to carry out measures to release the
four crewmen, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told journalists after meeting with
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on
Monday. Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and National Intelligence
Agency ( BIN ) chief Sutiyoso also attended the meeting to discuss the hostage release
efforts, held at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister
in Jakarta.
The four Indonesian sailors were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group after it failed to
hijack vessels belonging to their shipping company in Malaysian and Philippine waters in
April. The 10 Indonesian sailors held hostage for more than a month in the southern
Philippines arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma air base in East Jakarta on Sunday evening
after being released earlier that day. Both Luhut and Retno refused to comment on a
ransom of Rp 15 billion (US$1.14 million) demanded by the militant group for the release
of the four hostages. ( ebf )

More on Katibah Nusantara: Military Unit Under ISIS Linked

to Jakarta Attack

At least two civilians were killed in the attacks, the authorities said, along with five
assailants. Weapons used by some of the attackers in front of a shopping mall in
Jakarta.Credit European Pressphoto Agency
The ringleader of the group accused of carrying out Thursdays attack has been identified
by the chief of the Jakarta Provincial Police as Bahrun Naim, a leader of the militant group
Katibah Nusantara.
Katibah Nusantara is a dedicated Southeast Asian military unit under the Islamic State
that represents a direct security threat to the region.
The establishment of Katibah Nusantara with Malay-speaking jihadists from Indonesia,
Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia is similar to the recruitment of Indonesian and
Malaysian veterans of the jihad against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s
to join Jemaah Islamiyah, but on a grander scale, according to the paper.
In April 2015, fighters with Katibah Nusantara captured territory held by Kurdish forces in
Syria, a boon for its efforts to recruit new fighters and supporters among Malay speakers in
Southeast Asia.
The growing reach of Katibah Nusantara could lead to its expanding influence in Islamic
States decision-making process, in turn leading I.S. giving greater priority to Southeast
Asia as its war zone, according to the paper.

Indonesia's Ex- Top Judge Gets Life for

Corruption

Jakarta: An anti-graft court has sentenced Indonesia's former top judge to life
imprisonment for corruption and money laundering.
Akil Mochtar was chief of the Constitutional Court when the Corruption Eradication
Commission captured him red-handed last October for accepting bribes to fix the results of
two local elections.
In a verdict handed down late on Monday, a five-member panel at the anti-corruption court
found him guilty of receiving bribes of more than $3.37 million in relation to disputes in
elections for district and provincial chiefs.
It was revealed during the trial that Mochtar had received bribes to fix results of at least 10
local elections. Presiding judge Suwidya said there was no reason to reject the maximum
life sentence sought by prosecutors, since the defendant's deeds tarnished the image of the
Constitutional Court as the highest state institution.
The panel rejected the prosecutors' demand that the defendant pay a fine of $840,000,
saying it had handed down the maximum penalty for the crime.
"As chief of the highest institution, the last bastion for justice seekers, the defendant should
act as a good example," said Suwidya, who uses a single name like many Indonesians.
"The defendant's acts undermined the court's image."
The court also found him guilty of laundering more than $15.2 million from 2002, when he
was a legislator with the Golkar party, until his arrest in October 2013.
He was elected as a judge in 2008 and became the chief judge in April last year. Mochtar,
53, said he would appeal the verdict, which he described as unfair. Endemic graft in
Indonesia has been blamed for deterring foreign investment.

Indonesia Plane Crash Kills 1, Injures 5

Representational Image.
Jayapura, Indonesia: A small passenger plane crashed today in Indonesia's easternmost
province of Papua as it tried to land, killing one person and seriously injuring five, a rescue
official said.
The Cessna propeller plane operated by Indonesian company Komala Air crashed on the
runway of Ninia airport in Yahukimo district, local official Ludiatno told AFP.
There were six people on the plane when it went down. A technician was killed, while the
pilot and the four passengers suffered serious injuries, including broken bones. The injured
have been taken to hospital.
Ludiatno, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said bad weather was thought to
have caused the crash. An AFP journalist in Papua said there were strong winds when the
accident happened.
The plane was flying from the town of Wamena in Papua.
Light aircraft are commonly used for transport in remote, mountainous Papua, and bad
weather has caused several accidents in recent years.

Father of Indonesian Woman Murdered in Hong Kong Urges Death for the Accused
Cilacap, Indonesia: The father of a young Indonesian woman murdered in Hong Kong
called on Tuesday for her "sadistic" killer to be put to death, a day after a British banker
appeared in court accused of killing her and a second woman.
The mutilated and decomposing body of Sumarti Ningsih, in her 20s, was found on
Saturday in a suitcase on the balcony of Rurik Jutting's upmarket apartment in the southern
Chinese city.
Jutting, a 29-year-old securities trader, who until recently worked at Bank of America
Merrill Lynch, had called police to his home in Wanchai district in the early hours of
Saturday.
Investigators found a naked woman with knife wounds to her neck and buttocks in the
living room of the flat, on the 31st floor of a plush residential block.
Ningsih's body was discovered hours later as police searched the apartment court
documents state that she was killed on October 27. Her father spoke to AFP of his shock
and anger at his daughter's death.
"I want the murderer of my child to be sentenced to death. He killed her, sadistically, so he
must be put to death," said Ahmad Kaliman, 58, speaking to AFP in Cilacap, a port town
on the south coast of Java.
Hong Kong does not impose the death penalty. "I also plead for the governments of
Indonesia and Hong Kong to return our child's body as soon as possible. I want her to be
buried in Indonesia," he added.
He said the family had been informed by one of their daughter's acquaintances in Hong
Kong that she had been killed.
"We were informed by telephone that our daughter was murdered. I was very shocked,
especially when I was informed that it was hard to identify the body," he said.
Police reportedly believe the victims were sex workers, but Ningsih's father had told her
parents she was working in a restaurant in Hong Kong. Consulate officials said Ningsih
had come to Hong Kong on September 1 and overstayed her one-month tourist visa.
Kaliman said his daughter had first gone to Hong Kong in 2011 to work as a domestic
helper, before returning to Indonesia in 2013. She had returned to Hong Kong on two
occasions since then.
The Indonesian consulate confirmed to AFP on Tuesday that the other victim found in the
apartment was Seneng Mujiasih, 29 who went by the name Jesse Lorena and was also
Indonesian. She had been working as a domestic helper, the consulate said, but her
employment visa had run out in 2012. Jutting appeared in court for the first time on
Monday, when he was charged and remanded in custody.